Provides for the voter protection act. (8/1/26) (OR INCREASE GF EX See Note)

Senate Bill 342 enacts the Voter Protection Act as Chapter 15 of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, creating new statutory provisions designated R.S. 18:1955 through 1962. The legislation establishes a comprehensive prohibition against voter intimidation and misinformation by making it illegal to knowingly or intentionally intimidate, deceive, misinform, or coerce any voter, prospective voter, or voter assistance provider regarding voter eligibility, registration requirements, polling locations, voting times or dates, or voting procedures. Violations are punishable as misdemeanors with fines between one thousand and five thousand dollars and imprisonment up to six months, while organized or systematic voter suppression constitutes a felony punishable by imprisonment up to five years and fines up to ten thousand dollars. The bill also mandates the secretary of state develop standardized, accessible, and multilingual voter registration materials and expand secure online and mobile-friendly voter registration services. Additionally, the legislation extends the voter registration deadline by seven days beyond the existing deadline, creates a 600 foot no-interference zone around polling places prohibiting electioneering and dissemination of false voting information, requires polling places to display signage explaining voter rights and provide reasonable accommodations for voters with disabilities, mandates written notification to voters whose registration becomes inactive, and requires the secretary of state to publish annual reports on voter roll maintenance activities.

The practical effects of this legislation extend to multiple constituencies involved in the electoral process. Voters and prospective voters gain enhanced protections against false information and intimidation tactics, along with expanded access through extended registration deadlines and improved digital registration platforms. Voter assistance providers operating in good faith and in a nonpartisan manner receive statutory protection from prosecution or penalties for providing help with registration, absentee ballot assistance, or voting procedure information. Parish registrars of voters must implement the new notification procedures for inactive registrations and ensure accessibility accommodations. Election officials and law enforcement officers gain authority to enforce the 600 foot no-interference zone around polling places. The secretary of state assumes responsibilities for developing standardized materials in multiple languages, expanding digital registration capabilities, and publishing annual reports on voter roll maintenance. Individuals or entities engaged in voter suppression or misinformation campaigns face criminal liability under the enhanced penalties provisions.

The Voter Protection Act operates within the existing framework of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes governing elections administration. The bill explicitly references and complements existing protections against intimidation under R.S. 18:1461.4 and existing campaign-free zone provisions applicable at polling places. The seven-day extension to the voter registration deadline modifies the procedures established in R.S. 18:135 without repealing that statute. The legislation's provisions regarding voter roll maintenance and registrar duties interact with existing law authorizing registrars of voters and the secretary of state to conduct voter roll maintenance and removal of ineligible voters. The polling place signage requirements and disability accommodations mandates complement federal accessibility requirements applicable to elections under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The judicial review provision authorizing injunctive relief creates a cause of action for aggrieved persons, establishing a civil enforcement mechanism independent of criminal penalties. The effective date is August 1, 2026.